Last updated on January 3rd, 2023 at 12:24 am
Shower curtain liners are an integral part of our everyday life, whether we notice it or not. One top tip, though? Make sure your shower curtain liner is not made of PVC!
Let’s find out why, and the safer options available in the market!
The Quick Takeaway: You need a shower curtain liner. Room Essentials’ PEVA lightweight shower liner is great for your pocket (at $3 when purchased online), and also eco-friendly. It’s not mold-resistant, though, and needs to be maintained carefully.
- What Do Shower Curtain Liners Do?
- Best Eco-friendly Shower Curtain Liner
- 1 // Living Outlines Shower Liner System
- 2 // Croscill Shower Curtain Liner
- 3 // Haven™ Recycled PEVA Shower Curtain Liner
- 4 // LiBa PEVA Bathroom Shower Curtain Liner
- 5 // Mainstays Eco-friendly Waterproof Shower Liner
- 6 // Parachute Shower Curtain Liner
- 7 // Pottery Barn EVA Vinyl Shower Curtain Liner
- 8 // Quiet Town’s Sun Shower Hike
- 9 // Target PEVA Shower Curtain Liners
- 10 // Zenna Home Shower Curtain Liner
What Do Shower Curtain Liners Do?
So, a shower curtain is used for its looks sometimes, and doesn’t do a good job of keeping the water contained to the shower side. In such cases, a shower curtain liner is used to line a shower curtain. It’s another layer – a curtain – but it “lines” the actual curtain and protects it (and the rest of the bathroom) from the water.
Do you really need a shower curtain liner?
Fair question. If you have a shower curtain already, do you also need a liner? Well, if you find that after your shower, there’s water everywhere (and the curtain is soaking wet!), then it’s a good idea to get a liner as a barrier to prevent exactly such situations. A well-made liner will act as a waterproof barrier to all the water being splashed around in the tub while you shower. The rest of the bathroom will then remain dry, and non-slippery.
Best Materials for Eco-friendly Shower Curtain Liners
There’s one material that you should avoid at all cost: PVC (polyvinyl chloride). It’s plastic, and is very useful for waterproofing purposes, but it also contains toxins that are terrible for us and for the environment.
In that case, what is the best material for a shower curtain liner? These are the materials that make the least toxic shower curtain liner:
1 / Cotton
Heavyweight cotton shower curtain liners, made of cotton duck, are reasonably adept at keeping the water out. They’re easily washable and don’t develop mold. Go for organic cotton shower curtain liners!
2 / Hemp
Hemp shower curtain liners are biodegradable (if unbleached), and naturally resistant to mildew and bacteria. They weigh enough to not be billowing around and letting the water out.
3 / Linen
Linen material is fabulous when worn, but they also make good liners for your shower curtain. It’s pretty durable, easily washed, and eco-friendly as they come.
4 / Polyester and PEVA
Yes, polyester and PEVA are plastic. But they do not contain PVC, are easy to maintain, and can last for a long time. They are also the most affordable option. But make sure you dispose of polyester/PEVA shower curtain liners responsibly at the end of their life.
Is there a shower liner that doesn’t mold?
When you opt for a natural fabric shower liner, mold is not a big problem any longer. But if you’re still worried about mold, then here’s something you can do:
Apply a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide on the mold spots, on both sides of the fabric. Wait for 15-30 minutes, until the mixture has dried. This step will help kill mold and also clean the stains.
Then, wash your liner with laundry detergent (which will kill any remaining spores).
So, you can buy the non-toxic natural fabric shower liners, and make sure you wash them once a week to prevent any growth of mold.
Can You Make a Fabric Shower Liner Water-resistant?
You may find that the natural fabric shower liner isn’t as water-resistant as you would have liked. In this case, you can coat the liner fabric with beeswax. Just rub the beeswax all over, to cover the surface of the liner. This makes it much more water-resistant! This is a great trick when you want to use natural fabric for purposes that require it to be water-resistant or waterproof.
How Often Should You Change Your Shower Curtain Lining?
Ideally, every six months. Yes, that’s right. The shower liner is the dirtiest surface in the bathroom, according to Outlines, and harbors 60x more bacteria than a toilet seat. Yikes! So, good maintenance (which includes washing it once a month), and changing it out every six months, is the best way to go about it.
Ok, after all of that, what is the most eco-friendly shower curtain liner? Let’s find out!
Best Eco-friendly Shower Curtain Liner
Let’s start with Outlines’ Shower Liner System, which is brilliant, and then list out other options in alphabetical order as usual:
1 // Living Outlines Shower Liner System
Price: $50 + $25 | PEVA, 100% recyclable shower curtain liner
2 // Croscill Shower Curtain Liner
Price: $38 | Polyester
3 // Haven™ Recycled PEVA Shower Curtain Liner
Price: $17 | Durable recycled PEVA
4 // LiBa PEVA Bathroom Shower Curtain Liner
Price: $18 | mildew-resistant, PEVA
5 // Mainstays Eco-friendly Waterproof Shower Liner
Price: $5.96 | 30% recycled post-consumer PEVA
6 // Parachute Shower Curtain Liner
Price: $24 | 100% polyester, waterproof and mildew resistant
7 // Pottery Barn EVA Vinyl Shower Curtain Liner
Price: $19.50 | 100% PVC-free
8 // Quiet Town’s Sun Shower Hike
Price: $38 | 100% EVA curtain, but can be used as a liner
9 // Target PEVA Shower Curtain Liners
Price: From $3 | PEVA,
10 // Zenna Home Shower Curtain Liner
Price: $23 | 30% post-consumer recycled cotton + polyethylene laminated backing
The shower curtain liner is an important part of your zero waste bathroom, and thus requires some careful consideration. Once you zero in on the best option for you, then it’s easy from there on out. Other ways to make your bathroom more eco-friendly is by using safe, effective non-toxic bath products, eco-friendly bathroom towels, sustainable alternatives to toilet paper, and more.
And make sure you recycle your shower curtains at the end of their life.
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NOTE: All brand photographs belong to the respective brands/businesses.
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